Research

I study the physics of the ocean, trying to understand the mechanisms that link water motion and life within it. These are my main research topics.

Ocean Physics

Man's interface with the ocean begins at the coast. Just from the open coastline to the shelf break, the ocean conjures up a myriad of processes with complex interactions. Oceanic motion mediates all these interactions at several scales: from surface waves to the network of currents of global circulation, from seasonal to decadal and beyond. These motions are important because ocean velocity and turbulence determine the transport, evolution, and fate of living particles and chemically active particles in the marine environment. These motions are important to understand how the physical, biological, and chemical state of the oceans might be changing as part of a changing Earth's climate or vice versa. One of my main goals is to understand what controls the structure and variability of ocean currents on scales of thousand of kilometers down to the swirls that mix waters on scales of millimeters.

Interface between Ocean Physics and Biology

Physical motion is fundamental to understand the transport, evolution, and fate of organisms in the ocean. To study these nonlinear physical-biological interactions I use real observations and models that take into consideration the suspension, growth, death, transformation, behavior, and reproduction of thousands of organisms. One of my main goals and fascinations is to understand how turbulent eddies modulate the structure and function of marine ecosystems on scales less than 100 meters, where turbulence becomes three-dimensional and energy is dissipated as heat.

Interface between Ocean Physics and Chemistry

Physical motion is fundamental to understand the transport, evolution, and fate of chemically active substances in the ocean. To study these nonlinear physical-chemical interactions I use real observations and models that take into consideration the composition, motion, and weathering of water parcels that represent discrete quantities of chemical droplets. One of my main goals is to improve the tracking of underwater oil plumes and surface microplastics, which will allow response teams to be better prepared for mitigation of pollution and restoration of marine ecosystems.

ESC 805 Physical Oceanography

This course applies the laws of physics to the study of the properties and circulation of the World's Oceans. The following fundamental concepts in the dynamics of rotating stratified flows are examined: physical properties of seawater, forcings of the ocean, conservation equations, equations of motion, scaling, Ekman layers and spiral, potential vorticity, f and beta plane approximations, Rossby waves, baroclinic and barotropic instabilities, wind generated waves and internal waves.

ESC 110 Meteorology and Climatology

This course applies the laws of physics to the study of the properties and circulation of the World's Atmosphere. The following fundamental concepts in the dynamics of rotating stratified flows are examined: the Earth's atmosphere, warming the Earth, air temperature, condensation and clouds, air pressure and winds, air masses, fronts, and mid-latitude cyclones, hurricanes, weather forecasting, global climate, climate change, and air pollution.

GEO 111 Geologic Hazards and Natural Disasters

This course is an introduction to geologic hazards, their causes, and the natural disasters that result. The following fundamental concepts of Earth's surface processes are examined: streams and flooding, shaping the coastlines, slope failure and soil movement, climate change, wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes.

Code

Computer scripts are the machinery for transforming raw data and ideas into scientific results.

The scientific community is becoming increasingly aware that open access to research code is an essential ingredient for scientific reproducibility and progress. I strive to publish all my resesarch code in online repositories, and I contribute to several open source projects. Python, Bash, Matlab, and GMT are my weapons of choice.

The projects listed at right represent my reasonably well organized, well documented codes suitable for general use. I have lots more code associated with specific papers and research projects available on my github site.

Contact

Adam Hu

M.S. Student

Originally from Canton, China, I graduated with a BS in Engineering Science and Electrical Engineering double majors from the CUNY College of Staten Island. Currently working on my MS in Environmental Science. I am a Radio Frequency Engineer who designs and builds large mobile network systems for buildings and the metropolitan area of New York. As an environmentalist, I spent most of my person time study and research methods that could benefit the environment. I am now working on my thesis project developing a model for seawater irrigation by applying the desalination technologies. I interested in area to design, model and analysis difference sustainable and renewable energy systems.

Abhishek Naik

M.S. Student

I moved from Ahmedabad, India 8 years ago to begin my academic journey in the US and graduated with a BS in Biology from SUNY College at Old Westbury in 2015. In Dr. Lindo's lab at the College of Staten Island, I will be working on models to investigate mechanisms of eddy formation and larval transport. I also work with Dr. Wallace's lab at CSI, using a grass shrimp model to tackle food web transfer of toxic metals in an impacted region of the Hudson River Estuary. I plan to pursue a PhD in Biological Oceanography; I am interested in examining impacts of natural and anthropogenic disturbances on population- and community-level resilience. My previous research has encompassed urban forestry, molecular toxicology and antibiotic resistance.

Nadia Asfar

M.S. Student

Originally from Staten Island, NY, I graduated from Wagner College with a Bachelors Degree in Chemistry. My concentration in the field of Chemistry was Environmental Chemistry, where I was interested in the transport and fate of pollutants in different parts of the environment. During my undergraduate program at Wagner, I focused on the analysis of arsenic in groundwater and lead in the soils of Staten Island. Once I moved onto the Environmental Sciences Graduate Program at the College of Staten Island, I learned and focused more on the transportation of pollutants to the environment in my research. My research thesis is focusing on how emerging contaminants are transported to the estuarine waters of Galicia, Spain.

Maria Ivanova

College Assistant (M.S. completed)

Originally from Russia, I graduated with an engineer degree in Information and Measuring Systems from Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas. After witnessing the environmental impacts of the oil industry in Siberia, I developed an interests in ecosystem restoration and preservation. Following my passion, I entered to a MS program in Environmental Science at College of Staten Island. I’m currently working on climate response analysis and climate reconstruction using tree core samples and studying possible plastic waste pathways in Pacific Ocean to determine the optimal removal locations.

Tetiana Vasyleva

Undergrad student

Although I am majoring in physics and minoring in math, I've always been enthralled by the sea. Growing up on the coast of the Black Sea in Crimea, I spent many summers fascinated by the endless variety of life there. I became interested in physical oceanography as an undergraduate because it doesn't just offer a computational challenge, but often also gives insight in how best to preserve the threatened marine environment. Currently, I am working with Dr. Lindo at the College of Staten Island to investigate the existence of coastal waters exchange across the Virgin Islands Trough, which could have implications for fish spawning aggregation sites protection.

Lillian Morales

Undergrad student

Jessica Scicchigno

Undergrad student

Jessica Scicchigno is currently a student at the College of Staten Island, working toward her bachelor degrees, to graduate in June 2017. She is currently applying to Masters programs to enter into after her bachelors degrees. Her research interests lie with El Nino, La Nina, and Atlantic hurricane activity. She also has interest in fish sustainability and oceanic environments such as reef systems.